Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Other insects, spiders, etc.
 unknown larvae
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| Graeme Cocks |
Posted on 24-03-2015 06:47
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 Member Location: Townsville, Australia Posts: 3083 Joined: 09.09.08 |
I'd reckon this is a Lepidopteran larvae. It is a regular in my malaise trap and light trap. My guess is that it is hitching a ride on other flying insects. The tussocks suggest something like Arctiidae or Lymantriidae. However it is less than a millimetre long. It's going to be a really, really small moth. I'm wondering about Nepticulidae. There is one that occurs in my yard in a similar abundance to this larvae. Has anyone seen a Nepticulidae larva? Graeme Cocks attached the following image:  [66.53Kb] Edited by Graeme Cocks on 24-03-2015 06:48 |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 24-03-2015 22:01
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 Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7321 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Nepticulid larvae are leaf miners - and don't need all that protection. This is a freshly-hatched larva of some much larger hairy species. Both malaise traps and light traps catch the adult moths which may lay eggs in them, and the young hatchlings will be appear to have been caught too. Thoroughly cleaning traps between use will reduce the incidence of these unfortunates.
Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Graeme Cocks |
Posted on 24-03-2015 22:59
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Member Location: Townsville, Australia Posts: 3083 Joined: 09.09.08 |
Thanks for your thoughts Tony. I do wipe the traps, but not regularly. I'll do it routinely and see if they still come. |
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